Our first 3 weeks in Scotland

Well we've arrived and settled in Edinburgh, Scotland! After 3 weeks of settling in, we are starting to really enjoy our new lives here. Although there is still one major problem...you're all not here, and we miss you! So it's our hope is that this blog will help us stay in touch and share our experience with you, making the Atlantic Ocean seem a much smaller expanse between us than it really is. In Edinburgh God has blessed us so much, and in so many ways. We are grateful for our comfortable home, excellent schools, as well as the warm Christian fellowship we have experienced at home, church, and the divinity school. After being swamped with the work necessary to setting up a new home during week 1, we were able to enjoy getting to know the city as well as lots of great people over the past couple of weeks.

Walking JT and Ella to and from Preston Street Primary School during the week and getting to know the many new friends there has been a core activity here early on. They love their teachers, Mrs. Smyth (Ella's P1 teacher) and Mrs. Johnston (JT's P3 teacher), as do we. Many of the families from our flats send their children to Preston Street and we find it to be a wonderful community. There are 5 or 6 families that we've come to know who are from the US, including two Gordon-Conwell alums. In addition to their academics, JT and Ella will also soon begin golf and dance lessons through their school! The kids have made many friends and topping the list are James and Ashton. JT's buddy James, whose dad is working on a PhD in church history, loves legos, outdoor adventures, and the Red Sox! And Ella has found a kindred spirit in Ashton. She and Ella have more than a "wee" bit in common, adoring all things pink and/or Barbie! Ashton's dad Brad is working on his PhD in British Enlightenment history, and Liz and I have really enjoyed getting to know he and his wife Nicole.

We've also been visiting churches on Sundays: Charlotte Chapel the last couple of weeks, and St. Catherine's this past Sunday. We were very impressed with St. "Caths" which is much closer to our home, and we plan on attending again next week. It's just a 3/4 mile walk from our home, through a lovely neighborhood in "Morningside."

The Meadows, a beautiful nearby park, has of course been a frequent destination. It has huge fields filled with "football," rugby, and cricket games, as well as frisbee, plain old lounging, and most importantly, a "brilliant" playground!

Our new life here has already been filled with social events- birthday parties, bbq's, play dates, and church luncheons are keeping us quite busy, and very grateful!

I also had a great introduction to the New College community last week, as I was privileged to attend a 3 day theology conference held there by Rutherford House. I connected with old friends including Dr. Richard Lints, a friend and former professor at Gordon-Conwell, and met many new friends as well: professors, pastors, and PhD students from all over the UK and US.

The conference topic was "Sanctification." In an intimate setting with these evangelical scholars and pastors from around the world, some very rich papers were delivered and discussed. My advisor David Fergusson was in attendance as well, and so it was a nice opportunity for us to get to know each other better.

I am very encouraged by the faith, high regard for the truth of God's Word, and excellent scholarship New College seems to foster. The conference was another wonderful confirmation of our decision to study at the University of Edinburgh.

Well this week is a bit of a calm before the storm. We'll move into our permanent flat this weekend, "tuck in" and set it up next week. Also, my program officially kicks off next week with orientation week at the university, and my first working meeting with Professor Fergusson. I can't wait to get started! As always, we cherish your prayers, as you all have ours. We miss you deeply, and send our love.